Combined spectacle, memorandum, and accessories case



Aug. 16, 1949. s. s. COPLON 2,479,472

COMBINED SPECTACLE, MEMORANDUM AND ACCESSORIES CASE Filed Aug. 7, 1945 s Sheets-Sheet 1 fjipervrmrz a J It/mfo 2,479,472 COMBINED SPECTACLE, MEMORANDUM AND ACCESSORIES CASE Filed Aug. 7, 1945 S. S. COPLON Aug. 16, 1949.

3 Sheets-Sheet 2 M. M H

' Aug. 16, 1949.

s. s. COPLON 2,479,472 COMBINED SPECTACLE, MEMORANDUM AND ACCESSORIES CASE Filed Aug. 7, 1945 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 J7 zermar0 If dojazon/ .Zfzrsvzior v fih arzzg.

Patented Aug. 16, 1949 COMBINED SPECTACLE, MEMORANDUM,

AND ACCESSORIES CASE Sherman S. Coplon, Kenmore, N; Y. Application August 7, 1945, Serial No. 609,376

This invention relates case and article holder.

Salesmen compelled to wear spectacles, particularly retail salesmen in furniture, clothing, and

other stores selling large articles to be delivered and requiring notations respecting places and dates of delivery and/or other memoranda, find it necessary, under ordinary conditions, to withdraw their spectacle cases from their pockets, remove the spectacles therefrom and return the to a combined spectacle the scope of the appended claims, whereby spectacles, are properly protected, a pencil conveniently retained in a manner to guard against breakage of its point and wherein a memorandum pad or meansto enter notations is quickly presented upon opening the case or cover, and coins,

cases to their pockets, and then remove their pencils from the same or other pockets and finally take out their memorandum pads from a, third pocket, each under separate action or movement. oftentimes, due to failure of a, salesman to return the several articles to their proper places in his garment, confusion occurs when use of the device is again required and loss of time necessarily results from such action.

Housekeepers and others, in manyinstances, require the use of spectacles and on occasions jot down many items to be purchased on a shopping tour, with the result that on entering a, car or bus they open their handbags, seeking the proper coin, token or ticket for transportation. On reaching their destinations it is common to find that they resort to their list of articles to be purchased, which again necessitates the use of their spectacles, reached for separately in the handbags; reviewing their notations of the items to be purchased is next in order and finally a pencil is looked for among the many articles carried in the hand bag in order to check the items as they are purchased, all of which results in inconven ience, lost motions, delay and occasionally confusion.

It is the object of my invention to provide a combined spectacle case and article holderembodying a pocket for the spectacles, a pocket for coins, tokens or transportation tickets, a pencil sleeve or retainer and a memorandum pad, all conveniently assembled so that when removing the device from a pocket or hand bag, all of such articles are conveniently accessible.

Another object of my invention is to provide device of the kind mentioned which is simple in construction, inexpensive, and whereby in grasping the device in one hand, the spectacles and other articles may be successively removed as needed, notations made or deleted and the various articles used quickly returned totheir places in the device, all to be returned in assembled condition to onespocket or hand bag for future use;

In the accompanying drawings I have illus-. trated my invention inltwo forms falling within tokens or the like conveniently carried so that they are, easily accessible; all securely retained in theirrespective places by retainer' flaps or covers, cooperating with such parts.

In the drawings: Fig. 1 is a perspective view ofone form of my device shown in closed condition; 5 Fig.2 is a perspective view of the form of device shown in Fig. 1., showing thesame open to quickly enable the spectacles to bewith drawn'fromits pocket, the pencil from its sleeve or retainer, and thememorandum pad in position to make nota-' tions or delete; notations thereon and wherein upon lifting the pad, the coin pocket will be easily accessible. a V

. Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2, with the main closure flap broken away,'the spectacles'removed from its pocket, the pencil from its sleeve or retainer and the memorandum pad removed so as to illustrate the closure flap provided for the coin pocket. w

Fig. 4 is a longitudinal section taken on or about line 4-4, Fig. 1, looking in the direction of the arrow crossing said line. i

Fig. 5 is a longitudinal section taken on line 5-5, Fig. 4, looking in the direction of the arrow crossing said line. a 1 l t Fig. t is a longitudinal section taken on line 6,.F ig. 1 ,lo oking in the direction of the arrow crossing said line. V i H r Fig. 7 is an enlarged crosssection taken on line i- I, Fig. 4. Fig. 8 is an enlarged cross section taken on line 8-8, Fig. 4. i l V Fig. 9 is aperspective view of amodification of the-device shown in Fig.1, the device being illustratedin closed position.

Fig. 10" is aperspective-view of the modified form of my device, showingthe same open.

Figgll is a sectional perspective view of the lower portion-of the device, showing the spring expander in section within thespectacle-pocket,

the closure flap for thecoin pocket in open position and the extended closure flap closing the front of the device broken away. l l Fig. 12is a vertical section taken on line l2--I2, Fig. 9. i J

Fig. 13 is a broken perspective view of the spring expander whereby the desired shapeof :thespec- 3 tacle pocket is established and the pencil pocket formed within the spectacle pocket.

Fig. 14 is a transverse section taken on line I4I4, Fig. 9.

Fig. 15 is a vertical section taken through a portion of the length of the spectacle pocket, on line I5-I5, Fig. 14.

Fig. 16 is,a transverse sectiontakenon line I6I6, Fig, 9.

The exemplification of my device shown in Figs. 1 to 8 inclusive, is in the form of a case constructed of flexible leather or other suitable material and it comprises a comparatively flat rear member or strip II and a front member or strip I2, somewhat wider than said rear member, stitched along its longitudinal marginal portions closed by the folded portion of the flap and any card or other similar articles, even though loose in the pocket, will be retained therein. Therefore, when the case is opened in the manner shown in Fig. 2, the opening to the pocket I4 for the spectacles and the opening for the card pocket on the flap I9 are at the upper ends of said pockets. The opening tov the pencil shieldor retainer is also at the upper end of the latter so that by grasping the device with one hand at the region -between the flaps 22 and I9, the spectacles, pencil to the longitudinal marginal portions of the rear member, as at I3; the front member havinga fullness transversely because of its increased width along at least a portion of its length, to enable'it to be spaced from the rear member so as to form a pocket I4 for spectacles designated by the numeral I5. The front member is also stitched longitudinally to the rearmember inwardly from one margin, as at I6, so that the fullness-provided for the front member will form a pencil sleeve or retainer II. In order to hold the front and rear members separated throughout the width of the pocket I4, a spring U-shaped expander I8 of the usual type is inserted in the pocket.

The front member I2 is extended downwardly a considerable distance beyond the lower end of the rear member I I to form a closure flap- I9 and this front member is folded and stitched at the fold to the rear member along the lower marginal portion of the latter, as at 20, so as to form an outwardly-directed folded portion which closes the lower end of the pocket I4. The stitching may be a continuation of the stitching I3 along the longitudinal marginal portions of the two members and it is continued along the entire length of the pencil shield or retainer H, which latter preferably terminates at its lower end in line with the lower end of the pocket I4 and at itsupper end a short distance below the upper end of said pocket, so that the blunt end of the pencil, designated by the numeral 2 I, which may be rubber tipped or otherwise, projects from the shield or retainer and can be easily removed. It is to be noted that the rear member II of the case extendsa distance beyond the upper end of the front member I2 to form a retainer and closure flap 22, preferably somewhat shorter than the closure flap I9, which also serves as a retainer for certain parts of the case or device, as will appear hereinafter.

The closure flap I9 has a leather or other flexible frame-like element 23 secured to its inner side. This frame-like element is stitched along the lonigtudinal marginal portions of the flap I9, as at 24, and alsoalong the outer or free end of the latter, and it also has a certain degree of fullness to enable a calendar, a Celluloid or other transparent sheet and business cards to be -'in-' serted behind the same, itbeing provided with an opening 25 through which the'cal'endar canbe seen. By reason of this frame-like element being stitched in the manner stated, it serves as a card pocket, under which term any card-like element including the Celluloidfacingsheetmay be included, the pocket being open at its upper end when the flap I9 depends from the lower end of the remainder of the case; but when said flap is closed, the opening of the card pocket-*willbe and cards are conveniently accessible.

Near the upper end of the pocket I4, the front member I-2'is slit transversely, as at 26, 21, the slits being spaced apart and the material between the slits serves as a pad retainer of a type such as illustrated at 28 in'the drawings. The pad comprisesa cardboard or other similar backing 29 which is passed through the upper slit 26 from the outside and thence through the lower slit. 2'! from the inner side of the front wall I2 of the pocket I4, said backing having the various sheets 30 forming the pad glued or otherwise secured to its upper end. This means for positioning the memorandum pad against the front of the pocket I4 may be modified, since there are various ways in which this can be'accomplished without departing from my invention. In any event, the pad is removably applied to the front of the pocket I4 and since the spring-like expander I8 servesto expand said pocket, a substantially rigid backing is provided for the memorandum pad, which, when the device is' placed in the palm of one hand, enables the user to conveniently make notations on the pad or erase or delete any notations-thereon. 'Ihe flap I9 cooperates with said memorandum pad, in that the pressureof the-flap appliedtothe" pad-when the case is in ones pocket, will prevent the pad being accidentally forced from its retainer, and at the same time the flap will conserve any notations made on thepad and keep the latter clean.

The front wall of the pocket I4 is provided with a coin or ticket'slit 3|, which preferably trends longitudinally and opens into a coin pocket 32 formed of twill or other suitable material stitched, as at 33, or otherwise secured to the inner surface of the front wall i2, or otherwise fastened thereto, the slit 3I opening into said pocket 32, as clearly shown in Fig. 8.

When the coin pocket'32 has coins, tokens or transportation tickets placed therein, it extends into the pocket I4 provided forspectacles. The location'of the coin pocket is such that the majorportion thereof 'lies'in the region of the-bridge or nose piece of the spectacles and, therefore,no*

difi'iculty is experienced in inserting the spectacles into its pocket, particularly since the lense portions of the spectaclesmay-be placed against the rear member I-I- ofthecase-while the temples lie outside ofthe region occupied by the coin pocket. In order to sealthecoin pocket and prevent accidental loss of thecoins or other articles therein the rear member II of the case has extending laterally from one of its longitudinal edges a closure flap 34 which is folded forwardly and inwardlyagainst the front of the pocket I4, thus completely overlying the-region of the coin pocket and closing the coinor ticket slit-3I thereof. This closure flap 34 preferably extends across or approximately across the entire width of the'pocket I4 and isplaced: behind-a retainer loop=35 formed by slitting the front wall ofthe pocket I 4verti'cally with-the=slits thereof a in spaced 'relation,- and'- forcing thematerial: be

randum pad and coins are easily accessible so that an individual accustomed to wearing glasses need only remove the case from a pocket or hand bag and find all accessories easily accessible for making notations and having coins or the like conveniently at hand for paying fares, etc. Both the rear member i II and. thefront member have portions which fold over the various pockets and memorandum pad, the front member foldingupwardly upon itself, as at 36, so that the folded portion or closure flap I9 lies against the memorandumpad and protects as well as aids in keeping the same in place, and also keeps the closure flap of the coinpocket in closing position, while the folded portion of the rear member or closure flap 22 extends downwardly from its folding region 31 and overlies the upper portion of the closure flap [9 to hold the latter closed. Thus, when inserting the case into the breast pocket of a coat or into a vest pocket, the folded closure flap 19 remains in closed position, and if the depth of the pocket permits, the closure flap 22 also lies against the front wall of the pocket. This flap remains in a depending position and covers both the spectacles and the pencil or pen. If desired, the flap 22 may be fastened to the flap l9 in any well-known manner and while this might be of some slight advantage when the case is inserted in a hand bag, it usually is found unnecessary when the case is placed in a pocket.

If desired, the card pocket shown on the inner side of the closure flap l9 in Figs. land 2 of the drawings may be omitted,and the case is shown in Figs. 4 to 8, without this card pocket.

In the modification shown in Figs. 9 to 16 inclusive, the rear member of the case is designated by the numeral I I and the front member by the numeral I29. The front member I2 is considerably shorter than the rear member and it is stitched along its longitudinal marginal portions to a medial portion of the rear member so that end extensions 38 and .39, respectively, are provided at the upper and lower ends of said rear member, the upper end extension being somewhat shorter than the lower end extension.

The members II and l2 are spaced apart to form the spectacle pocket W, the stitching l6 provided in the preceding figures, which divides the case into a spectacle pocket and a pencil pocket, being omitted. In this modification, however, I employ a stop strip '40, which spans the space between thefront and rear members and has its ends stitched or otherwise secured to said members, as at 4|. The spring expander 19 is inserted into the spectacle pocket and one leg l8 bears against one edgewall of said pocket while the other leg l8 bears against the stop strip which is spaced a distance from the other edge wall of said pocket approximating the thickness of a pencil, as best shown in Fig. 14, so that a pencil sleeve or retainer I1 is formed along one edge of the case.

The lower end extension 39 serves in part as a closure flap, and it is folded upwardly similar to the flap l9 in the previously described construction. A portion of this extension flap is stitched to the case along its .verticalmarg'ina1- portions, as at .42, 43 and alsofastened to the frontmember I2, as at 44; thus a coin or article pocket 32 is formed at the lower end of the case, the front member l2 of the case serving as :the rear wall of saidpocket while the region of they lowerend extension 39 upwardlya distance from its fold 36 serves as the front wall of said pocket. The said region of the lower end extension is provided with a coin slit 31 and with a retainer loop 35, adapted to receive the end of a closure flap 34 extending laterally from the rear member ll and adapted to be folded over the front of the :coin or article pocket to close the coin slit 3|. That portion of the lower end extension 39 above thefastening means 44 serving as a closure flap l9 which may be folded to extend.

downwardly, as shown in Fig. 10, and thus expose the :means provided to hold notation paper against the front of the spectacle pocket, and

also to prevent the hand, while making notations on thepad, from coming in contact with said closure flap 34 and working the same loose from its retainer loop 35*. a

In this modification I have shown a paper-slip retainer 45 formed of a strip of sheet aluminum.

or'similar material to provide a flat rear member 46, having. L-shaped forwardly extending flanges 4'l-along both vertical'edges and an L-shapedflange 48 along its lower edge; thus forming an open pocket into which sheets or slips of paper 49 may be inserted from the upper end thereof and any desired notation made thereon. As these sheets or slips of paper are loosely held in 1 the retainer so formed, the outermost sheet or slip, after the desired notation is made thereon, may be easily withdrawn and a clean sheet or slip exposed for making further memoranda. This retainer is riveted at its upper end to the front wall of the spectacle pocket, as shown at 50, Fig. 14.

The closure flap l9 may be referred to as the loose portion of the lower end extension 390i the rear member ll while the front wall of the coin or article pocket 32* is the secured portion of said end extension. The fastening means 44 for securing the lower end extension to the front member l2 is shown in part as stitches extending inwardly and upwardly from the side stitching 42 and 43 to staples 5| which are driven through the L-shaped flange 4B of the retainer 45. However, any other means for securing the lower end extension to the front member of the case to close the coin or article pocket 32 at its upper end may be resorted to. It is to be noted that the closure flap I9 serves to protect and keep the outermost sheet or slip of paper in the retainer 45 clean and when turned down to expose the paper, it will prevent loosening of the retainer flap 34, as previously stated.

It will be apparent from the foregoing that complete cooperation and dependence exists between the several parts of my improved case to function in the manner intended for them, and that each part has association with other parts to provide advantages not existing in devices of this kind.

Where in the claims the term memorandum pad is used, it is to be given a broad interpretation to include any element or object upon which notations or memoranda can be made.

Having thus described my invention what I claim is:

1. A case of the kind described having an upwardly-opening spectacle pocket with spacedaparttfront rand-cream walls; aacoinepocketzi said spectacle: :p'ocket fastened. "to 'theiinnen-cside of :said front: wall,z-'sa'id; front. wall; hauingrmeans ofaaccess ztovsaid coin r -po'cket i a: vdoyv-nwa :dlyclosing flap extendingiromtheirear:walhofisaidi spectacle pocket and normally;closingaheelatter, and a closureufiap extendingfromisaidilasbmentioned'wall and foldedover. the front? wall oias'aid spectacle -pocket toicoverthe means-of accessrto said-coin pocket. 1 a: 2: Arcase', formed of astrip of: material folded transversely near one endzto form azclosurea flap, a;second strip of materialriolded approximately midwayxbetween its ends and. at its folded: portioIi-Jbeing transversely iastened'to'and directed; outwardly away from the: opposite end; of said firstementioned'strip, the portion-f said second strip at one;side of said outwardly-directed:folded portion being-fastened at its -longitudinaledges to 1 the longitudinal edges of the first-mentioned. strip-:from'said folded portion'tosaid closure? flap andaadjacent one of said longitudinal iedgesc'and parallel thereto to form: a spectacle pocket :and a pencil pocket disposed one? parallel- ,to the other; the portion of said second: strip at the ,opposite side .ofitsfolded portionbeing free and foldableupwardly over. the -fastenedportion: of said second strip and-adapted to-have said closure flap overlap said freeioldable portion; the outwardly-di-rected folded portion of said isecond strip forming thebottom of -said spectacle 'pocket. 3,: Acase-,-. formed of a'strip ofmaterialiolded transversely near one end to form a 1 closure flap, a second strip of material folded approximately midway between its ends and .at its folded-pone tion being transversely fastened: to and-directed outwardly away 'from the opposite "endaofsaid first mentioned strip, the: portion of said second strip at one side of said outwardlyfolded portion being "fastened atits longitudinal edges: to the? longitudinal edges of the first-mentioned strip from said folded portion tosaid closure-flapand adjacent one ofsaid longitudinal-:edges and parallel thereto toform a spectacle'lpocket-rand a pencil pocket disposedroneparallel to: the other," the portion of said=second strip atlthenopposite side-of its folded portion being ireesand ioldable upwardly over thevcfastened pOrtiOn-of-said'seo- 0nd strip and adapted to have-said: closure flap overlap said .free foldable-portion, the outwardlydirected folded portion of a said secondstrip formingthe-bottorn of saidtspectacle :pocket -a nd a U-shaped springeexpander inserted in-saidlspectacle. pocket to i hold the second .str-iplseparated throughout the width of .i said pocket vfr0m -said first-,mentioned .strip.

14. A case, formed. of. a stripnof. material iolded transversely. near oneend toiorm a closurenflap, a. econd strip of. material rfoldedi approximately in dway between its ends and at its -;fo1ded..po-r-@ ti being. transverselyiastened.to, and directed ou wardly away from the. oppositecend, oi xsaid first-mentioned strip, the portion. of said-{second strip at one ,side of said, outwardlyfolded-v @portion being- .fastened. at ,its. longitudinal edges .to the longitudinal-v. edges of. the first-mentioned striprfromas'ai'idrfolded nraomsmzsaieaciesuraflap andoadiacentonewtz said rlongitudinal edges .and parallei theretoi'to' zfonm a spectacle pocket and; a pencil-" pocket zdisposedeoneaparallekitoithe :jother, theeportion sofi-csaitt secondtstripiiatathe zopposite side of its folded -portiorr being-free andfoldable upwardly-.2 over thee-fastened portion: ofiisaid: secondwtrip. andsadapted-zto havezsaidzclosure; flap o erlapzsaidifreeiioldable portion;-.tl'1e outwardlydirectedzioldedzportionzofgsaid-second-strip-forming :the bottom ie-said-speetacle:'pooket;sand a U.-shapedspring+expandedinserted in saidgspectacle pocket lto'rhold-the SGQOIlduSEIiD -sepa-rated throughout theewidth: OfwSflidPDOCRGtTJfrOm" said first-tmentioned strip ,andsto :maintain the fastened -:f.olded eportion of said second strip :in: a stretchedaand-..gig-id-manner;and :an lelementacarrieduby stretched; and rigidzpor-tion to: tenable notations: tobe made.- thereon'when-theifree foldable portion of said second=strip is'unfolded. 5t. Ancase, iormed r-of a-stripofi materialiolded transversely; rnear onezendto efor-m. aclosure flap, a secondistrip m.material "folded approximately midway; betweensits, enda and, at its foldedeportion -being. transverselylstitchedvto and directed outwardly away #from-lthee' opposite end of said firstementionedstrip, the; portion. of said-second strip atone side of said outwardly-directed folded portion being stitched along -.-itS& longitudinal edgesto the longitudinalledgesof said-:first-mentionedv strip from said iolded portion. tos said closure fiapancl being 'lturthe'r stitched-fin closely spaced wrelatiomtoaone ,of saidelongitudinal edges andqparallel thereto to Jorm a ;spectacle. pocket and, a. .pencil ppocktet disposed on parallel; .to the other, a coin pocketrstitched-to-rthe:inner side-of said; second, strip. within.,.said .-sp.ectacle,. pocket, said second .strip? having t. a 'slit therethrough opening into said coin pocket and said-firstl-mentioned .striplhaving aiclosure flapextendingrfnom one of itsilongitudinal'.edgesaandwfolded over the front of the .fastenedportionbf said ,second strip to close saicll'slit the portionloi-said second-strip at. the opposite asidenofitits .fo1ded:-portion-.being treeandioldableflupwaitdly iOYGiZtht-L stitched portion of saidsecondlstrip [and over said last-mentionedw closure I fiapmandi adapted td have \said firstrmentionedlclosureflap overlap. said free portion. when iofldedgfthebutwardlfidirectd, folded portion ofgsaidlsecondi-s'trip forming the bottom of said spectacle pocket.

V .QSHERMA'NS. 'CCPLON.

REFERENCES .C ITED The following references are fiof-wrecordsin ="the file. oi lthis .-rpatent: 

